good morning. on their way home. president obama set to announce he's pulling thousands of u.s. troops out of afghanistan during a prime time address of the nation. just how many are coming home and when? we're live at the white house with the latest. borrowed story? yet another surprising twist of the casey anthony trial. the prosecution now raising the possibility that the florida mother stole her accidental drowning death from a fellow inmate. and biblical proportions. the dream that led one man to build a full-scale replica of no noah's ark, complete with animals two by two. what does he plan to do with it? he'll tell us today, june 22nd, what does he plan to do with it? he'll tell us today, june 22nd, 2011.

captions paid for by nbc-universal television and welcome to "today" on this wednesday morning, i'm ann curry. >> i'm lester holt. matd is on assignment this morning. estimated 100,000 american troops currently serving in afghanistan. the president will talk to the country tonight, expecting to announce a major drawdown. perhaps as many as 30,000. >> the question with that number is the pentagon on board, both timing and numbers have contentious issues. we'll get details. meantime, there is yet another new face running for the republican presidential nomination. former utah governor, jon huntsman. some political watchers are calling him the republican's wild card candidate. are his political views too moderate? we'll chat with him in a home. plus the arrival of summer

comes with it a lot of time outdoors. that can mean a number of hazards to your family. a new safety concern has emerged. we'll talk about that and demonstrate the dangers live. >> it's important that people understand the danger. we want to begin with the u.s. war in afghanistan and what we expect president obama to say in his prime time address tonight. chuck todd is nbc's chief white house correspondent. good morning. >> good morning, lester. >> let me ask you about what the president is planning here. is it different than what we heard today when we talked about the 2014 hand over to afghan authorities? >> tonight is going to be about the 30,000 surge of troops that he ordered into the battle in december of 2009. in fact, it's important to look at that speech at west point that he gave then when he announced the surge. he talked about three sticks for measuring what's going on and how much success is happening there. and that is to deny al qaeda a

safe haven, to try to push the taliban back and make sure they don't have the ability to overthrow the afghan government, and to help afghan security forces rise up and take over. on all three points, the president tonight is going to layout a case that the u.s. has had success on all three. to the point on the al qaeda front, lester, to say that operationally, al qaeda in that region is essentially been defeated. and that is going to be the case he makes for bringing home these essentially 30,000 troops over a time line of approximately 12 to 18 months. possibly as many as 10,000 by the end of this year, an additional 20,000 by the end of next year. what won't be talked about too much tonight is what happens to the other approximately 70,000 troops that will be slowly coming home sometime between 2013 and 2014. >> and, chuck, are the generals on board with this phase of a drawdown? >> the best way to describe the

reaction and one general i talked to, military aide, said they're okay with this. i put okay in quotes. general petraeus argued to keep the surge forces in the region longer, that he would like to have them there for one more fighting season. the president essentially is overruling him on that front. but you talk to many military expert it s and they will say t generals generally want more troops on the ground. they say the policy is not changing. that this idea of counter insurgency and counter terrorism are going to be still used as the key component of trying to keep pushing forward and defeating the taliban. >> chuck todd at the white house this morning. chuck, thank you. of course, nbc news will have live coverage of president obama's address to the nation tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern time. and now here's ann. lester, thank you. now to presidential politics. the latest republican candidate to tle his hat into the ring, former utah governor jon huntsman. we'll talk to him in just a moment. but first, nbc's andrea mitchell

is in washington with his story. good morning. >> good morning. he is a former utah governor whose most recent job was work for barack obama. now he's the newest republican candidate for president. he was designed to look like ronald reagan's 1980 campaign. >> through the eyes of miss liberty -- >> this magnificent monument to our liberty. >> reporter: with the statue of liberty behind him jon huntsman had the look. there was a few glitches, the press pass with his name miss spelled p and there were more reporters than supporters. but all that aside, jon huntsman is off and running. >> i'm jon huntsman and i'm running for president of the united states. >> reporter: father of seven, including two adopted children, son of a billionaire who invented the iconic clam shell box for big macs, huntsman hopes to become the alternative to mitt romney, also a mormon.

>> we will conduct this campaign on the high road. i don't think you need to run down someone's reputation in order to run for the office of president. >> in an environment where voters are looking for something different and refreshing, jon huntsman is really the one in this race. >> reporter: huntsman has a strong economic governor, against abortion, pro gun and pro business. he flew directly to new hampshire, notably not iowa where he says he won't compete. some of his positions are not popular in the first caucus state. huntsman favors civil unions and immigration and opposes subsidies for corn, soy bones and ethanol. >> he could be the strongest one of the whole bunch. i think his bigger challenge is just get that nomination. >> reporter: iowa is more friendly territory for tim pawlenty. >> if i could do it in minnesota, we can do it in washington. >> reporter: his first television ad starts airing tomorrow. the first presidential ads in the 2012 campaign.

as huntsman joined the fray, newt gingrich's campaign continued to implode. and now gingrich's latest financial disclosure forms will reveal a second line of credit at tiffany's. a spokesman says it has a zero balance and has been closed but won't say how recently. meanwhile, texas governor rick perry, not yet a candidate, had one of those moments when he tried to show he's down with social media. >> and you can always follow me on tweeter. >> huntsman may be a long shot. he has been rising in the polls. but his theory of the case is that in new hampshire, where democrats and independents can crossover, that he could become the moderate republican that they choose, and in that case he could be a serious challenge to mitt romney. >> all right, thank you so much. we are now joined by republican presidential hopeful jon huntsman. mr. ambassador, mr. governor, thank you. >> jon will do, ann.

>> you have two major strikes against you. one by one. recent nbc news/"wall street journal" poll found that 64% of republican voters have never even heard of you or don't know much about you and a gallop poll found that 22% said they're hesitant to vote for a mormon in 2012. that's one in five, governor. what gives you confidence you can overcome these hurdles? >> if you look at numbers and assume the election were tomorrow those would be daunting odds. when you figure you have months and months ahead in specific primary states, we live in a day and age where you can get your name out by social networking and new media tools. we have every opportunity to get out and talk about the issues, to talk about our record from the state of utah, to talk about the future of this great country, and i think over time, a, people will begin to mow who we are in terms of name recognition and, two, people will begin to understand how we feel about the united states and the importance of balancing our books and getting our position

right in the world. >> one thing they're going to learn is that yun the son of one of the richest men in america and yourself, you're also wealthy, at a time when corporate america is making record profits and not hiring. so what do you say to -- especially blue collar workers who say what they want is a president who knows how to bring jobs back to america? >> i would say that we're a great entrepreneurial family. we're very, very proud of the family business that we have built. it started from nothing. second, i would say that we were one of the greatest job creating states in utah while i was governor. we created an environment that spoke to job creation. we didn't create jobs as a government, but created that environment, that foundation. and to look at the jobs we created across the board, giving people the thing that i think is most important in their lives, and that's a job because with a job becomes enormous opportunity. look at the record. look at what we've done. i think they will be pretty pleased. >> i think perhaps it will be fair to say that a point of

scrutiny might be that your own family company that you just mentioned has moved a lot of jobs overseas. >> if you look at any large manufacturing company, multi-national company, you will find that your customer base is in many different countries of the world. you have service as customer base. because of that you build facilities internationally. and any large business basically is in that kind of position. but let's not forget that there are export opportunities from the united states to many of these emerging markets. create jobs right here at home. we live in a global economy. that shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody. >> mitt romney talked about your old boss, president obama, and giving him an "f" on the economy. what grade would you give president obama on the economy? >> i would say there's a lot of work to be done. over the last 2 to 2 1/2 years there are no signs of recovery, no signs of real health. and i think that's what can 2012 election cycle is going to be about.

>> doesn't sound like you're giving aim an "a." >> with the unemployment and debt, come on, we've got to focus laser lights on getting the numbers right, tackling spending and debt. just as importantly looking at the revenue side of the balance sheet, which will allow us to grow out of the hole we're in. we've got to create jobs and expand the economy. >> does that include raising taxes? >> listen, in a state where we became the most successful economy in america, in the state of utah, we didn't raise taxes, we created the environment for business growth. and i would have to say at a time when people need to grow and businesses need to get back on their feet and small business needs to access capital, this is not to a. time to raise taxes. >> off the table? >> off the table. >> let's talk about what's happening tonight. the president making his speech we've been hearing about afghanistan. 30,000 number in terms of a drawdown sit well with you? >> i think we can probably be a little more aggressive over the next year. we've been at this nine years and 50 days.

we put karzai in power. democratic elections, back in 2004. we've routed the taliban. we've dismantled al qaeda. let's get serious about what needs to be done on the ground, and that's a significant counter terror effort. not a counter insurgency but a counter terror effort. that will require intelligence gathering, require special forces capability and some training of local forces left behind. what we need now, ann, is a healthy dose of nation building here at home. our corps is week. it is weak, we have less of an ability to project the goodness and might of the united states increasingly. we need to focus on getting our own house in order right here. >> we're almost out of time but i want to mention something that i think people will also find interesting about you. you were once a high school dropout. you dropped out to play keyboard in a rock band, right, called the wizard? >> yeah. >> if any one of your seven children tells you or ever

wanted to tell you that they want to drop out of high school to do what you did, what would you tell them? >> pursue your dreams but keep on going with education. that's the most important thing you can achieve in life. >> you went back. >> absolutely. >> jon huntsman, thank so much. thank you for joining us here in the studio. now let's get a check of the rest of the morning's top stories from savannah guthrie who is in fortunately at the news desk. >> in the news this morning we begin with yet another aviation near miss. this time at jfk airport in new york. speeding toward takeoff, a jumbo jet had a tire burning halt on monday as an egypt airplane made a wrong turn into its path. air traffic control abruptly aborted the takeoff to avoid a collision. >> cancel takeoff! cancel takeoff plans! >> the german jet slammed the brakes so hard the pilots feared the tires were dangerously over heated. new tactics today in the battle against the fires in arizona.

nbc's miguel is there again this morning with more. miguel, good morning. >> good morning. the damage here is expected to be close to $20 million protecting homes in this fire and that's exactly what firefighters did overnight. the monument fire exploding, but this blaze is under control. fire used to fight fire. 1,000 acres purposely set ablaze. dry brush burned before the mouth of the fire can reach it. >> it's imperative that we get this, rob the fire of any fuel coming in here. >> reporter: this is a critical time for firefighters. the winds are calm. they can control this blaze. when winds whip wildly, homes were destroyed. nearly 60 turned to smoldering rubble. she escaped the flames with just inches to spare. fire reached her doorstep. >> when it hits home, there's no words. >> reporter: shelters across

sierra vista are full of evacuees, thousands can only sit and wait. the lucky ones -- >> oh, my god, it looks great. >> reporter: -- slowly allowed to leave. nearby, the threat isn't over, but wide spread fear may be. crews optimistic, an end is now in sight. july 15th, just over three weeks from today, that's when firefighters hope to have this blaze fully contained. the expected size of the fire, savannah, is expected to be 35,000 acres. >> miguel in sierra vista, arizona, this morning, thank you. thunderstorms and heavy winds slammed the midwest knocking over airplane hangars in michigan and leaving some chicago commuters stranded on trains overnight. the storms also forced hundreds of flights cancelations at both of chicago's airports. now to wall street. cnbc's melissa lee is at the new york stock exchange for us this morning. good morning. >> good morning to you. a sigh of relief in greece as the prime minister secures the

confidence vote necessary in order to push through deep budget cuts. meantime here, the federal reserve meeting on interest rates. rates are expected to remain unchanged buthe key will be what the fed chairman says about the recent soft patch in the economy at his press conference afterwards. you can join me for full coverage of the fed today and a special look at the american recovery from the front lines, that starts at noon today on cnbc. >> melissa lee, thank you. this morning the first lady addressed a group of young women about leadership and impoverished region of south africa. she was greeted by a joyful choir and scores of south africans. tuesday, mrs. obama and the first daughters read dr. seuss books at a day care center and enjoyed a little dancing. and serena williams, emotional reaction to her first round victory has wimbledon fans abuzz. more accustomed to her outbursts and grunting but not tears. and yet after spending the last year, the emotional win, i've

never cried with joy for anything. it's now 7:16. back to ann, lester, and al. >> good for her. >> yeah. >> we're cheering you, too. by the way, >> we do have some scattered rainshowers out there to start the day. they should fade out as we had a

lunch time. starters storms should read develop as we head to the afternoon. and that's your latest weather. >> al, thanks. remember the case of the so-called run away mom in pennsylvania? back in 2009 bonnie sweeten claims she and her daughter had been swid kidd napped but they were found days later safe and sound at disney world. now sweeten has pled guilty to fraud. nbc's jeff rossen is at the federal courthouse in philadelphia for us. good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you. at the time we had no idea why she did it, why she took her own daughter and faked their kidnapping. now it turns out prosecutors say they have the full picture. bonnie sweeten was on the run because she's a thief. this morning there's a plea deal

that includes federal prison time. almost overnight bonnie sweeten went from carpools and play dates to criminal charges and mental evaluations. in court tuesday, the sure bur ban mom cried as she pled guilty to wire fraud and id theft, admitting she stole more than $700,000 from co-workers, even her own relative. >> she's a serial fabricator that doesn't know how to tell the truth about most anything. >> reporter: as police closed in on her scheme in 2009, bonnie sweeten took her 9-year-old daughter julia and hatched an elaborate abduction hoax, complete with a fake 911 call.

>> reporter: police in pennsylvania issued an amber alert, but they eventually found sweeten and her daughter doing just fine, down at disney world where they arrested her. at the time i spoke with her husband here on "today." >> as more continues to come out do, you stand behind your wife? >> yes, i do. >> why? >> 9-month-old daughter that needs a mom, two step kids who need their mom. >> he later filed for divorce and sweeten finally pled guilty to disme aner, sentenced to jai time. sweeten, now a brunet, pled guilty to wire fraud and aggravated id theft. federal charges. she paralegal at a law firm and used forged passports and drivers' licenses. prosecutors say that's why she faked the kidnapping in the

first place, to escape. this is sweeten's lawyer. why did she plead guilty and not go to trial? >> she pled guilty to accept responsibility for her actions and she's very repomorseful. >> reporter: she faces from 2 to 22 years in federal prison. the judge will decide in september. meanwhile, bonnie sweeten remains behind bars this morning without bail. coming up here on "today," did casey anthony borrow her strategy? we'll be back in a moment. this is "today" on nbc.

just ahead, a live demonstration on the dangers of fire works and new summertime threat that could put your family's safety at risk. and a modern day full-size noah's ark. well in the weather ♪

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accident still being cleared. fire activity at mcelveen street. southbound 95, backed heavily from white marsh to the beltway. here is a live view of traffic. we will start with the west side delays. not too bad. backing up from liberty to i-70. southbound 95, jammed conditions approaching 195 to the accident see. tony has a check on the forecast. >> we do have scattered light rain showers on hd doppler this morning. not enough to affect the drive time, but hit and miss showers. don't be the price did you see a little shop or pass by and everett -- a shower pass by your neighborhood. dew points in the low seventies right now. chance for a few rainshowers to

start the day. scattered thunderstorms late this afternoon. some could be strong. we will keep a chance for a thunderstorm in the forecast on thursday and friday. it will clear up hopefully over the weekend. temperatures will drop into the mid-to-upper-80's. >> check the bottom of your screen for updated news and traffic information. we are back at 7:55 with another live update.

7:30 now on this wednesday morning. the 22nd of june, 2011. a beautiful day here in the big apple. we want to thank all these lovely people for joining us here on our corner of rockefeller plaza. it's always nice to have so many people stopping by. and in studio 1a, i'm ann curry next to lester holt. >> coming up this morning we're going to talk about the warning of danger ofrs fireworks and a new safety concern facing our families this summer. gel fuels and fire pots. we're going to show you just how hazardous they can be coming up. also, new surveillance photos of the suspect wanted in

connection with a brutal murders of four people inside a neighborhood pharmacy. the youngest victim just 17 years old. we're going to speak to her sister and get the latest on the investigation coming up. plus, everyone knows the story of noah's ark from the bible. after a dream of another great flood, one man decided to create an ar ark of his own. a full-says replica. this is a live picture from the netherlands. we're going to tell you what he plans to do with it. >> i want to know what he knows. >> yeah. >> we'll get to that coming up. let's begin this half hour in florida with the casey anthony murder trial is entering its 25th day. nbc's kerry sanders is covering the case for us. >> good morning, lester. on tuesday i watched as the jurors fidgeted in their seats, stretched their arms, a juror rubbing his neck like this, for extended periods of time i wa watched as some jurors didn't look at the judge, casey anthony

or the lawyers, their eyes wondering around the courtroom. the one thing that might have caught their attention they didn't hear because they had been excuse kused from the courtroom. a new detail revealed by the state. with jurors out of the courtroom, prosecutors revealed just days ago this woman made contact with their office. aim whalen who was in jail o. a drunk driving charge and was briefly housed in a jail cell adjacent from casey anthony. prosecutors say her personal tragedy was familiar. >> apparently her child died in a swimming pool and was found by the child's grandfather. >> reporter: that's casey anthony's defense, that her 2-year-old daughter caylee accidentally drowned. but five days into the defense case to profit there was no murder, there's been no mention of drawning, only this. >> when we run a gas chromatograph -- >> reporter: defense witness. >> the top layer is called the

humus layer. >> reporter: after defense layer. >> it speaks for around 150. >> reporter: explaining complicated science, at times tuesday jurors may have found it harder to follow the accent than the science. >> it could be described as appearance on a certain locations. >> reporter: and it was especially confusing when defense attorney jose baez at one point objected to the testimony from his own expert. >> what we did -- >> let me stop you there, sir, just so you can answer my question. >> objection. >> the witness is being interrupted. >> sir, finish answering the question. >> thank you, sir. where was i? >> when a defense lawyer is objecting to the democrat of a defense expert, it tells you that somebody didn't do their homework and the defense lawyer was not prepared. >> reporter: the defense also claimed they were blind sided by prosecutor's plans to present

rebuttal evidence taken from the anthony family's computer. >> we have withdrawn our computer experts from the witness list because we expected them to testify to what was in their reports and not the new evidence now given to us. >> reporter: but the judge said -- >> it's not new evidence. i don't know how something can be new evidence when it was given to you, but it's not new evidence. >> reporter: in fact, the defense team got that hard drive two years ago. as for april whalen, prosecutors say they're still investigating her case about what she said in the jail. she did tell prosecutors one thing, she did not tell her personal story of tragedy directly to casey anthony. >> kerry sanders, thanks. we're going to to lfollow up on that. savannah guthrie is here and thom thomas mesereau is here. good morning to both of you. thanks for being here.

tom, let me begin with you. the prosecution looking at the possibility that drawning defense was stolen from another inmate that casey was housed with. how hard is that for the prosecution to, a, prove, and to, b, get it into testimony? >> i'm very suspicious of this kind of evidence. when you get someone in jail who interjects themselves into a case like this, a case that a lot of people from all walks of life are trying to interject themselves into and tries to say that the defendant may have borrowed a defense from someone whose child drowned. i'm very suspicious of it. i think it's going to be flimsy evidence. if the prug if the prosecution tries to jump on it they may look weak. >> the prosecution has not brought up the drowning except for the opening. the jury at this point has got to be scratching their head. >> they're knee deep in this forensic testimony and it's very arcane. that's for sure. on this issue of the drowning story, as i understand it, this witness -- somebody called the

prosecutor's office, not the witness, april whalen. somebody said you should call her. when they called her she said, i never talked to casey anthony, i don't see how this testimony gets into the trial unless there is some nexus, somebody who said i told casey anthony about this other inmate's story. even then, although there are similarities, yes, child drowns and a grandfather found him, it's a typical story tragically in florida. i'm not sure how persuasive the jurors would find it in any event. >> thomas, we heard scientific testimony, mind numbing stuff. is that their best defense? >> they have to put on experts to counter what came out of the prosecution's case. i think jurors today are pretty sophisticated when it comes to experts. they think they're paid basically to testify for one side or the other. never the less, you have to call these kinds of witnesses because in your closing you're going to talk about what they said and

the defense has to attack the cause of death, time of death, place of death evidence that the prosecutors have brought forward. they have to do this. >> thomas, a lot of people think that if you put casey on the stand that the prosecution is going to roll right over her. she's already been acknowledged as a liar. could she become a sympathetic figure in the eyes of the jury? is that a possibility? >> it's a very great possibility. i don't know her. i've never spoken to her. but you know, a lot of lawyers are good on facts, good on law, good on conventional techniques. they're very poor on the emotions in a courtroom. if she gets on the stand and even if she messes up a little bit, if she's likable, if she looks much less harmless than they're trying to portray her, at least they're going to beat the death penalty and may get a lesser included defense. >> savannah, who had a better day yesterday? >> the defense scored points and tom is right the defense has something to argue in closing arguments. for example, the plant expert,

the body could have been in the woods only a period of two weeks which feeds into a defense ot r theory that scene was manipulated. on the other hand, on prosecution's cross-examination, they were able to turn around a lot of these forensic experts, make them look unsure. in fact that plant expert later said, well, maybe it's possible the body was there much longer. there were pretty effective cross-examinations as well. >> thanks very much. thomas mesereau, good to have you as well. now let's get a check of the weather from al. >> narrator: today's weather is brought to you by daisy brand sour cream. a dollop of daisy is the natural way to make good food taste better. >> we've got -- you've got a sign that says you do the best puppy face. what's your name? >> emily. >> what's your best puppy face?

it's coming. oh, that's your puppy face. all right. nice puppy face. now if you could play cards we could get a bunch of you together. what's that, sweetie? okay. shy family. all right. let's check your weather. see what's going on. and you've got these delays. they're barking for the delays out there. airport delays from anywhere from new york city no, dc, detroit, dallas looking at strong weather today as well. afternoon temperatures, vegas, 108. palm springs and phoenix, 112. tombstone, over 100 degrees. that heat spreads through the gulf coast. 90 there's. 80s working their way into the mid mississippi valley. nice and mild in the northeast and new england. 50s and 60s in the northern plains and great lakes.pl >> there is a tropical air mass to start the day. dew points in the the 70's. in the heat and humidity, we

will see a chance for showers it's a super 1st birthday. what's his name? >> eli fish. >> all right, eli. there's your present. lester? >> all right, al, thanks very much. coming up next here, an eye opening live demonstration on the dangers of fireworks. new and emerging summer safety the dangers of fireworks. new and emerging summer safety concern for your family.

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chlts back now at 7:42. summer is officially here with the 4th of july right around the corner, so there is certain a cause for celebration but also concern about when it comes to fireworks and backyard items that can quickly turn a party into a disaster. nbc's tom costello at the national mall in washington, d.c. also, annette tenanbaum. good morning to you both. >> good morning, ann. >> before we talk about that other concern, let's talk about this new data that's come from the consumer product safety commission that's just being released today. it shows that one month last year at this time injuries caused by sparklers, bottle rockets and small firecrackers contributed to sending thousands, maybe something like

8,600 consumers to emergency rooms. is that right? are these stats also legal or illegal fireworks? >> thank you, ann. that statistic is right. we actually had three deaths last year. these are the cause of legal and illegal fireworks. so our message today is use legal fireworks safely and stay away from illegal fireworks because they can be deadly. >> especially to children. and, tom, let's talk about this first issue. it's not a fireworks, per se, but the fire gel and fire pots that are usually used this time of year. >> that's what the consumer product safety commission is most concerned about. gentlemen, go ahead. we're going to show you an example here. on the left we have lighter fluid, typical lighter fluid at your barbecue. you can see how quickly that can catch on fire and how now the gentleman will show you how quickly he can put it out just using a garden tool or something like that.

they can get it out pretty quickly and you use water or a dry chemical. but the trouble is now the gel fuel. now, the gel fuel, of course, is used in tiki torches as well as fuel pots. it's ideal because it helps keep the bugs away. the trouble is, it can be very difficult to see. and, in fact, trying to get it out is even more difficult. look how the shirt is turning brown. we have an infrared piece of video to show you. when he tries to just stamp it out, you can't get it out. in fact, the trouble is if you drop and roll, it still isn't going to work. if someone tries to get it out on you then they get the gel fuel on them and they get seriously burned. the only way you get something like this out is by using a dry chemical. in this case, a fire extinguisher. but you might also be able to use baking soda. the trouble is nobody is going to think about that if you have an emergency on the deck. >> we have had some serious injuries because of the gel fuel. one young man is battling for

his life now in new york state. we have had other young people, including a family dog, that had been seriously burned because you cannot get it out quickly. you have to use a dry chemical. >> and the trouble is you don't think about that in the case of an emergency. let's step this way and show them the other examples. but if you're at home and this does happen to you, remember, grab baking soda or something like that. >> dry chemical. and, also, the reason it's so dangerous is because you can't see the flame. and you pour morley quid in there, more gel, and it explodes. that's what's caused these accidents. >> traditional example now. sparkle sparklers. kids play with these all the time. if they get close to somebody else, it can be tragedy. >> sparkler can burn 2,000 degrees fahrenheit. it's like a blowtorch in some cases. and so it easily catches your clothes on fire and also it can burn you very easily. so sparklers are a lot of fun but use them safely. >> all right. we have other examples of an

m-1,000 but they're wrapping us telling us they're out of time. you're going to talk about this throughout the day. >> we are. we hope that people will be safe this 4th of july. stay away from illegal fireworks. use the legal ones safely. >> all right. ann, back to you. >> thank you so much for the important warning this morning, cpsc chairman and tom costello, thank you. coming up next, the real life noah's ark that is literally of biblical proportions. it was an ongoing. i didn't understand it. i found out that connected to our muscles are nerves that send messages through the body. my doctor diagnosed it as fibromyalgia -- thought to be the result of overactive nerves that cause chronic, widespread pain. lyrica is believed to calm these nerves. i learned lyrica can provide significant relief from fibromyalgia pain. and less pain means, i can feel better and do more of what matters. [ female announcer ] lyrica is not for everyone. lyrica may cause serious allergic reactions or suicidal thoughts or actions. tell your doctor right away if you have these,

new or worsening depression, or unusual changes in mood or behavior, or any swelling or affected breathing or skin, or changes in eyesight, including blurry vision, or muscle pain with fever or tired feeling. common side effects are dizziness, sleepiness, weight gain and swelling of hands, legs and feet. don't drink alcohol while taking lyrica. don't drive or use machinery until you know how lyrica affects you. i found answers about fibromyalgia. then i found lyrica. ask your doctor about lyrica today. this flat-out delicious -- the new $3 flatbread breakfast combo. a toasty 6-inch flatbread breakfast sandwich and a 16-ounce cup of freshly brewed seattle's best coffee. all for just $3. build your better breakfast today.

[ female announcer ] nutri-grain -- one good decision... can lead to another. ♪ ♪ with real fruit, more of the whole grains your body needs, and a good source of fiber. nutri-grain can help you eat better all day. i know you're worried about making your savings last and having enough income when you retire. that's why i'm here -- to help come up with a plan and get you on the right path. i have more than a thousand fidelity experts working with me so that i can work one-on-one with you. it's your green line. but i'll be there every step of the way. call or come in and talk with us today.

now to the ship that's making headlines around the world. a full-sides replica of noah's ark under construction in the netherlands. nbc is there. janet, good morning. >> reporter: hi, lester. good morning to you. we are about an hour outside of amsterdam. it's a small town that's getting a lot of attention because of what's being built here. it is a colossal noah's ark getting so much attention with all the construction going on, you might say it's a bit of a zoo. it looks like out of a movie. and it is hollywood huge. >> on the, ark! >> reporter: but this is not a scene from the comedy "evanal mighty." looming large in the netherlands, massive creation inspired by, of all things, a

bad dream. >> i dreamed that it was flatted. and the next day i get idea to build a ark of noah. >> reporter: a builder by trade, johan huibers constructed a real life noah's ark, measuring in cubics. in modern terms, it's the length of a football field and four stories high. unless you're standing right in front of it it's hard to conceive just how big the ark is. think small cruise ship. designed as a tourist attraction with a religious message, bits three years in the making. now down to finishing, details. all life size. what did this cost? >> $11,000. >> for one elephant. >> for unelephant. >> so you have a lot of money invested in fake animals. not all the animals are of the plastic variety. who chickens?

johan says he will eventually stock the ark with more live pairs. of course, there are some things you may not want two of. johan's ark has proven sea worthy but how realistic is this dutchman's dream of doom? because of global warming the concept of a flood happening here is not unheard of. al gore predicted as much in the movie "inconvenient truth." >> in f. green land broke up and melted this is what would happen at sea level in the netherlands. absolutely devastated. >> reporter: true to the story modern day noah created an opening on the top of the ark for the release of the dove. go for it. so what if the heavens do open and the predictions come to pass? could you escape a flood on this ark if it happened? >> oh, yeah, no, i don't think so. no, i don't think so. no. >> reporter: what johan is thinking is he'd like to take

the ark up next summer in advance of the olympic games in london. >> thanks. let's hope there's not 40 days of rain ahead. >> amazing. miss usa is coming up after your local news. vo: meet erika. she hasn't shopped for a new pc because... erika: ... my computer is the same as a new computer. vo: so to show her what she's missing, we built a pc store in her house. erika: (gasp) employee: come on in. make yourself at home! erika: this is my home! employee: let's take a look! erika: (lifting laptop) it's really light. honey, help me shop! employee: you can get up to seven hours on this battery. jesse: the color really pops out.

employee: everything's wireless. wireless keyboard. jesse: that's impressive. i like this one better. erika: and i like this one... vo: new pc. what's it gonna be? erika: i'm a pc, and i got what i wanted. jesse: as usual. ♪ [ female announcer ] it's dinnertime... ...in america with natural pet foods from petsmart. more pet parents trust petsmart for their natural pet foods than anyplace else. it's no wonder, with brands like simply nourish™ - with carefully sourced, complete and natural nutrition with simple, recognizable ingredients. plus our unbeatable price guarantee. do what's best for your pet, naturally. at petsmart. happiness in store.™ ...they could stop spending our money on things like... ...a cotton institute in brazil... ...poetry at zoos... ...treadmills for shrimp... but instead of cutting waste... or closing tax loopholes... next month, congress could make a deal that cuts medicare...

...even social security. i guess it's easier to cut the benefits we earned... than to cut pickle technology. ♪ than to cut pickle technology. like many chefs today, i feel the best approach to food is to keep it whole for better nutrition. and that's what they do with great grains cereal. see the seam on the wheat grain? same as on the flake. because great grain steams and bakes the actual whole grain. now check out the other guy's flake. hello, no seam, because it's more processed. now, which do you suppose has better nutrition for you? mmm. great grains. the whole whole grain cereal.

>> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am stan stovall. time for a check of the morning commute with stan stovall. >> dealing with heavy delays on 95 out of howard county. those stretch all the way down to the beltway, 22 miles per hour. 175, that is where the accident continues to block the right lane. crash reported at pulaski highway and wight avenue. fire activity shuts down harford road and barnett road.

further north on southbound 95 approaching northeast, lane closures and delays due to accident coming into us there. we will show you what looks like in white marsh. southbound 95. looking like it normally does this hour. live view a traffic i-95 south of 100. back to the beltway all the to 100. tony has a check on the forecast. >> the little bit of rain to contend with in some neighborhoods. spotty showers and hd doppler. getting ready to move into downtown baltimore in the next 15-20 minutes. thunderstorms will redevelop this afternoon. scattered rain showers to start the day. partly cloudy skies and thunderstorms developing late in the day. some of those to be strong.

it is going to be humid. scattered storms possible on thursday and friday. >> we are back at 8:25 with our next live update.

♪ 8:00 now on a wednesday morning. it's the 22nd day of june, 2011. we're so happy that so many people came to hang out with us here early in rockefeller plaza. and right now they are listening to the lazy song, the latest from the pop sensation, bruno mars. why, you might ask? well, that's because he's going to be coming here this friday here on "today." and i don't know if we're cool enough for him. we're going to have to give it a shot. >> that's right. >> anyway, i'm ann curry and lester holt and al roker. we have to fight over who likes him more. there you go. anyway, what's coming up? >> we're going to talking about

one man's high wire balancing act. remember, 2008 he came on this show and did the high wire act? bicycle. >> scared the heck out of us. >> i was watching this tape earlier. even knowing how it turns out you are holding your breath. he's planning a much bigger and bedder stunt. he's going to tell us about it. it hinges him getting permission from a very special place. we'll find out if he gets it. >> a little bit later on, marlo thomas is stopping by again. her campaign is to kick start women's lives. this morning she's concentrating on the right ways to get your finances in order. >> she's got a really good job. let's get a check of the top stories. savannah guthrie is in fortunately. >> in the headlines this morning. president obama addresses the nation tonight about the nearly decade long war in afghanistan. he'll discuss the future of the 30,000 extra troops he ordered in during the 2009 surge. and outline a plan for their gradual withdrawal over the next year and a half. nbc news will have live

coverage of the president's speech beginning at 8:00 eastern time. one day after entering the 2012 race for president republican jon huntsman appeared on "today" this morning. he declared that now is not the time to raise taxes. even though he said the country needs to get its financial house in order. meantime, republican hopeful newt gingrich is now dealing with the rest seg nations of his two top fund-raisers earlier this month. a state of key gingrich members quit the campaign on a single day. 11,000 residents of minot, north dakota, have been ordered to leave their homes by tonight as the rising mouth river threatens to cause the city's worse flooding since 1969. water could reach the top of the city's levees by this weekend. radioactive water leaks and aging nuclear facilities can to undetected for long period of times according to a new government report. a recent associated press investigation also found that radioactive materials had leaked from 75% of this country's

commercial nuclear power sites. now for a look at what's trending today. a quick round up of what you're talking about online. a top yahoo! search today is fa farrah fawcett, after her husband ryan o'neal claims his own family turmoil, especially with his daughter's tatum, may have caused the cancer that killed faucet two years ago. space shuttle commander mark kelly announced on facebook he's retiring. he plans to write a memoir with his wife, gabrielle giffords. and twitter is buzzing about a wayward baby penguin found 2,000 miles from home on a beach in new zealand. wildlife officials will let nature take its course hoping the penguin can get back to antarctica all by itself. it's now 8:03. back to al with a check of the weather. >> narrator: today's weather is brought to you by chevy. every mile is backed by 100,000

mile, five-year powertrain limited warranty. >> and we're hanging out with some friends here. you came from north carolina to see ann. >> yes, i did. >> ann, oh, ann, these folks, nice folks came out of the way from north carolina to see you. >> oh, well, i better go over there and say hi. hi. >> look at that. >> et cetera show you what's happening, pick city of the day. that's a nice moment. miami, florida, nbc, miami, scattered showers and thunderstorms. 91 degrees for a high today. you can see that big low pressure system spinning around iowa. that's bringing you heavy rain, thunderstorms, all of the way from texas up into the great lakes. more moisture making its way in the mid atlantic states as well. slight risk of strong storms. texas all of the way into the northeast. out west, fabulous. and ann's hometown of ashland, oregon, 89 degrees today. 112 in phoenix. >> as we head through the day, expect warm and humid conditions

with scattered off and on showers and perhaps a few thunderstorms later this afternoon and evening. hi and that's your latest weather. let's see if the reyup i don't know is over yet. >> al, thank you so much. it is over but i bet you would like to hug our next guest. guess who is stopping by? >> who? >> miss usa. >> i sure would. >> miss usa. >> i sure would. ♪ rossover that can go the distance. that's why we gave the chevy equinox an epa estimated 32 miles per gallon highway. but do passengers appreciate all of the comfort features we put in the equinox? hey. want me to drive? we'll take that as a yes.

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a search of a dangerous kyler on new york's long island. a man walked into a pharmacy on sun mourning, shot and killed four people and walked away with a backpack full of prescription drugs. the yioungest victim, just 17 years old. first, nbc mike tybee has the latest on the investigation. mike, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, lest lester. the police commissioner called this crime the most vicious he had ever encountered. the suspect still on the run and still armed and obviously lethally dangerous. it's that fact that has the employees of so many other pharmacies here on long island more than a little worried. the surveillance photo shows a

slight gaunt white male with beard and white cap. he made off with prescription drugs but there was no hint of why he chose to shoot the four people in the store at point blank range. even law enforcement veterans were shocked. >> this is one of the most heinous brutal crimes we have ever encountered. >> reporter: the victims included 17-year-old jennifer, an assistant to pharmacist raymond ferguson, and two customers including 33-year-old jamie who was about to get married and whose mother cried for her daughter. >> i can't believe my daughter is gone. >> reporter: and cried out at the killer. >> we're going to get you. we're going to get you and justice is going to be done. it was so senseless. he could have stole the drugs and left everybody alone. >> reporter: it's the senseless aspect of the medford massacre that so worries this pharmacist. so worried she brought a baseball bat to work and now keeps a scissor close at hand. >> i shouldn't have to go to work and be worried that

somebody is going to come in and possibly take my life or people i work with. it is pretty scary. >> reporter: they're scared not just because of the medford shootings. people looking for prescription drugs have come to this mom and pop pharmacy brandishing a knife and hammer in recent months, looking mostly for drugs like oxycontin. >> over the last year the amount of people that have come into this store with prescriptions of oxycontin have probably tripled or quadrupled. >> prescription drug thefts have increased, triggered new attention in congress. >> since 2007, 1800 pharmacies from coast to coast have been robbed at gun point. >> reporter: and now meg pierce, a pharmacist for decades and working in a quiet little town arms herself to go to work. >> to be quite honest with you, if i had to defend us, i would do it. >> reporter: and the families of

completely innocent victims try in vain to make sense of the senseless. >> my daughter has two girls and shef she was just going to get married. she was happy. there was no reason for this. >> reporter: the father of the the other young victim said that his daughter who was due to graduate tomorrow wanted to be a doctor. that's why she loved working in this pharmacy. so obviously an incalculatable loss for a family and a town. >> jennifer's sister leslie is with us now exclusively. leslie, thank you so much for coming on. and your willingness to share your sister's story. we're so terribly sorry about your loss. >> thank you. >> both you and your sister were employed at the pharmacy. neither of you was supposed to be there on sunday. how was it that jennifer was working that day? >> jennifer always usually worked on sundays, like, because, she was like the

youngest one. she loved working there. it was like no problem for her. like my parents always told her, you shouldn't go in on sundays, like that's the day like we were always together. she just -- she loved working there, side by side, and she like loved everyone and she like, when everyone came in she would just give everyone like smiles and stuff and she was just really happy. >> i know you've got an alarming call from a cousin of yours on sunday. can you tell me from that point how you learned what had happened, what had taken place? >> my cousin, he called me and he said, he's like, he's like, lesly, are you okay, are you and your sister okay? i'm like, yeah, why? he's like, no, but where is she? i'm like, she's at work. and he -- and he said, there's four people dead in haven drugs. i'm like, inside?

he said, i don't know. i'm trying to figure that out. and i just -- i wanted to know if you guys were okay. he kept talking and i just hung up and i tried calling her and i called her like 20 times and she didn't answer. and then i called the pharmacy, and the phone like -- the line was busy. and i knew something was wrong. i could feel it in my heart. my heart just sank. >> i know. >> i could just feel it. >> and jennifer was your big sister. a year and a half age difference between the two of you. >> yeah. >> can you help us know her and what kind of person jennifer was? >> jennifer was very family oriented. like she like always like protected me and my mom. like the anyone ever came up to us and looked at us wrong, she -- she just would get so upset. like she didn't like that people like were mean and she tried to find the good in everyone. like the i didn't like someone,

she would be like, oh, lesly, you don't know what you're going to need from them. and she just like -- she was so loving to everyone. if you ever said she would go up to you and try to make you laugh. and when you were sad, she knew. you didn't have to tell her. she's like, i know you're sad. she would just try and make you feel better. i don't know. like i was told her, you're just so perfect, jennifer. i'm just so afraid that something's going to happen to you. and she was so happy that she was graduating. she couldn't even believe that she was going to graduate. she's like, lesly, i have a feeling like, i don't know, like it's just so scary. i didn't think i would ever make it to graduation. i thought something would happen to me before then. like this is so unbelievable. i mean, i'm so happy. she was so happy with her boyfriend. >> lesly, you honor your sister by coming on and helping us to know her and telling her story. we're so, again, deeply sorry for your loss and that of the

loss of the other three families. please accept our deepest sympathies. >> i just want to thank everyone for their support. like they've brought tons of food and just their prayers and they've been giving me strength, and my mom and my dad and my brothers. there's a lot of people that i can -- i'm just so thankful for their support in every way. i know jennifer's just giving me strength right now. >> we're happy there are so many people you can count on. thank you again. we'll be right back.

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back now at 8:19 with more of our special series "kick start our life today" with marlo thomas. author, marlo thomas is here today. hey, marlo. >> good morning. today a lot of new decisions we make every day boil down to dollars and corrects. money touches everything. from the big questions like whether to raise children full time or work outside the home to the smaller ones like, can i a afford a vacation? we met one mother of three who in order to get unstuck and move forward first needed to get her finances in order. >> i had my son when i was 26. and i hadn't really formed a career path yet. i always figured that would come. >> reporter: brook conley studied religion at columbia university. she went on to pursue photography and work with special needs children. is any of them a passion, do you think? >> i do have a passion about a lot of things. because i have the children, i feel like i have to make the right decision because i can't

waste my resources. >> so that kind of like paralyzes you? >> it paralyzes me completely sometimes. >> reporter: the results that the family of five is struggling financially. what is your financial situation like now? >> we pretty much live from paycheck to paycheck. since my husband works for himself i always have to get those checks from other people. >> what do you do at camp? >> play. >> do you have to say no more often than yes? >> i do have to say no sometimes and sometimes there are some tears. >> do you face up to what's happening with your finances? >> not all the time. sometimes it just feels too overwhelming. >> reporter: the first step to getting brook on the right track, some homework. we would love you to make a journal, just get a little notebook and write down what your spend every day. >> okay. i haven't used credit cards for three years. >> reporter: next we sent her to meet with "today" financial editor jean chatzky for advice

on what her priorities should be. >> you need a job that actually produces a paycheck. go to your bank and arrange for an automatic transfer of $25 a week. build your savings up to a point where you have that emergency fund. >> reporter: if you looked forward five years, where do you wish you would be in five years? >> living comfortably. not worrying about bills. >> what would you be doing? >> i would love my husband to help take care of the kids and he would be the go-to person. i'd like to give him a chance to do that for a while. >> brook conley and jean chatzky now joining us along with marlo. the good news is your husband is a contractor so you have a beautiful house. the bad news is that you don't really have the income coming in that makes you feel comfortable every month. so you have been trying to implement this new plan, this sort of save money every month. how has that been for you, this jean chatzky idea of putting $25 away every mondth.

>> well, it was a little hard to do at first. i went to the bank. once i told them to take the $25 a week out of the account, they're just going to do it. >> you just biting the bullet. >> right. >> does it give you any comfort to know that you're building this cushion that you have a cushion? >> oh, absolutely. because in the end it gives you choices, if you have money saved. >> jean, you're also advising that it's very practical when it comes to her work. she does have -- she has a passion, a clever idea for a children's product that she's thinking about. but you want her to get really practical right now about income. >> i want her to get a paycheck. and the idea is a terrific idea and that's all well and good. but we need to build a foundation. and that means working, earning some money, putting more savings away. and then down the road, when you're feeling a little more flexible, then you can start your business and then you can focus on the passion. >> you also say, grocery shop always with a list, use coupons, shop for a better deal on cable,

and look for less expensive car leases. >> it's all about reducing the expenses. we went through brook's budget line by line. basically every item can be reduced if you put your mind to it. you prioritize. and savings, as we talked about, they just have to be the priority. >> you also prioritize for your husband billy, prioritize drawing up a will, getting life insurance, saving for retirement. those take money. so why -- >> and time. >> but when you're trying to build your retirement, why are you spending money and time on that, because? >> because they're needs. we're not even talking about wants. when you've got three little kids, a will is a need. retirement savings are needs. nobody is going to do that but you. we have to go in order. start with the emergency cushion and progress to these other things. >> you know, i wonder, brook, you know, you represent so many women, so many people today. what kind -- what have you learned that you think might benefit people listening now, who are also in the same circumstances you are in?

>> i think i've learned to take it one step at a time, because when you look at your situation, it can just be so overwhelming. every day you try to do everything at once and you're just stabbing at it and you are getting nowhere. but jean was able to make some priorities for me, so i could see things a little more clearly and i can think, well, today i'll do this and that's what i'll do. and tomorrow i'll do this and that's what i'll do. and not worry so much about the whole, so that was really helpful. >> that is really brave, to not be overwhelmed. >> great advice. you've come so far in just a week. >> everyone has helped me quite a bit. and actually this little segment has motivated me to get the website up for my business, sprou sproutsinthehouse.com. >> there you go. >> thank you so much for ideas. you've done such a great job. great feedback on all this. >> absolutely. so many women have written in and said that's me. great. >> we've got lots more including

miss usa after this. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. that's get a final check on the morning commute with sarah caldwell. >> still recovering from an earlier accident in how county. down to 20 miles per hour southbound 95 from the beltway approaching 100. accident clearing on the shoulder their approaching 175. edmonson avenue, we still have the accident there. pulaski highway and rid 7 aberdeen, another accident location to watch board.

all of that lending volume from the earlier accident, 11 minutes to get you from the beltway southwest down to 100. only a 12-minute ride on the outer loop. he was what harford road looks like. the beltway going away from us on the outer loop. we will surge to a life on 100, where we all -- we are holding on to those delays. take 295 as your alternate. tony has a check on the forecast. >> dealing with a little bit of rain in the neighborhoods. there is still a couple of them out there. don't be surprised if you see a little sprinkle to start the day. these showers are going to dissipate. strong thunderstorms will develop. mixture of clouds and sunshine. maybe a rain shower. scattered thunderstorms late in the day. warm and humid, highs in the upper 80s and low 90s.

some forecast first and friday. -- same forecast thursday and friday. >> we will have another update at 8:55.

8:30 now on this wednesday morning. the 22nd of june, 2011. it's first full day of summer. you know what? this is place to be. the temperature is just right. the crowd is warm. i'm ann curry alongside lester holt. he's in for matt this morning. we have al roker and savannah guthrie. just ahead we're catching up with one of the most unforgettable moments.

>> remember nick, the king of the high wire. he gave us a tremendous live performance a few years back here on the "today" show and now taking on a even bigger death-defying challenge. we'll talk to him shortly. and we're going to talk to the popular fox news meteorologist and how her life change with a diagnosis of ms. she's going to share her story and tell us how she's doing in just a little bit. we're going to learn how to make four summer salads. mark taking us cooking school. >> he's the one to learn from. we're going to have fun with that. also this morning, let's now say hello hello to alyssa campanella. the new miss usa. you're so beautiful. do you want to give him a hug? >> hello. >> do you want to get lester's wife on the phone. >> thank you. >> what went through your mind when you heard your name called? i know you were listening to the runner-ups. >> they list the runner. ups first. you don't want your name called at that point.

when the host said miss usa 2011 is k -- i was like, it's california. that's all she had to say. my jaw dropped to the floor. >> you and miss tennessee, runner-up, had become friends. >> we were hoping it would come down to us two because we would be happy either way. when it came down to us two, we were excited. we said it. >> you don't like wearing high heels? that's got to be tough. >> i don't. i don't. i love shoes. lately i wasn't a shoe person before now i actually am. i go shopping for shoes more than ever before. i'm not really into heels because they can sometimes hurt your feet. >> and your back. >> and your back. >> try walking down those stairs. >> i do. i do. on the weekends, it's really tough. >> i tripped in my preliminary evening gown in my shoes. confirmation why i don't like heels. >> you've got miss universe coming in in brazil. >> i compete on september 12th. it will be on nbc.

>> i'm curious what the hardest part of the contest is when you're up there. >> for me it's swimsuit because i walk really fast and any adrenaline is rushing and i have to remember to slow down. that's my biggest -- >> once again, al is nodding. >> we're being told we're out of time. >> but not before we show that video. >> thank you so much. >> congratulations. >> thank you. al, a c >> there is a tropical air mass to start the day. dew points in the the 70's. in the heat and humidity, we will see a chance for showers and don't forget you can

check your weather any time of the day or night, go to the weather channel on cable or weather.com online. now, let's head down to florida and say hello to uncle willie. >> birthdays, anniversaries, you name it, we've got them all right here. smucker's, orville's favorite product. happy birthday, if you will, please. this is ron hyde of jackson, new jersey. as a young boy, hello. one of those things on his hand. pressure. john gaines, chicago, illinois. 105. and recently received an honorary doctorate. how about that? that's wonderful. at that age, that's -- any age, that's good. rita, i love rita. rita carpenter. she's from beverly hills, florida. 105. another 105. remains active in church and regularly takes good care of her

little garden. i tell you, watches the "today" show. elizabeth gauthier. and she is from northbridge, massachusetts. 110. how about that? good healthy life. and gets her hair done every single week and enjoys going to the casino. they've got good ones up there. william and mona braun. and they're from open no a, nebraska, where lawrence welk used to play live. 75 years, they've been married. secret to longevity is success and marriage is making sacrifices. that's a nice one. and loving each other more than you can imagine. that's it. that's all. now, back to new york. >> all right, willard, thank you so much. coming up, we're going to get details on a death defying stunt planned by a daring high wire artist. but first, this is "today" on nbc.

we're back at 8:38 with a man who has become an expert at cheating death and he's done it live right here on "today" back in 2008, he walked and then biked across a suspended high wire 13 1/2 stories in the air in newark, new jersey. and there were some very tense moments. now he's creating new stunts with the help of his family for discovery channel series called "life on a wire." >> it's so high.

>> nik wallenda, good morning. >> good morning. >> were you wearing a camera? >> yes. that's one of the exciting things about "life on a wire" the viewers see what i see, which is a new thing. nobody has been able to see the angles of me performing. >> i want to talk more about this program but let's go back a couple of years when you were doing the performance live here on the "today" show on the bike. there were some very hairy moments. i've watched it this morning. i knew how it turns out. but yet i'm sitting there trembling with you. how difficult was this? >> you know, it took a lot of training. >> right there, you encountered something you didn't expect. >> right. the stabilizer cable slid towards me as i was walking. that's something that happen's indicationally that we have to be repairereprepared for. >> something happens, it's not what you want. you're not in fear of falling though, are you? >> i'm not. i'm trained to grab the wire no matter what.

i've since a child, i was put in my head that you grab the wire. >> later you did it on the bike. you had problems there on the uphill. once again, we all held our breath. >> i did. it's a different story on the bike because the bike forces you away from the wire so there's no way to grab the wire. if you fall, fall on the bike. >> was there a moment there? >> there was a moment there i thought, wow, i'm not in a good position. i'm trained to step off the bike as well if i had to. i never felt like i was going to lose balance. i was losing traction. >> that's a big deal suspended above the street. let's talk about this show. you push the limits. we showed a clip of the bahamas. 250 feet off the ground. >> i did a walk that was over 2,000 feet. i actually in the first episode tonight that airs at 10:00, attempting to break two records. a walk 2,000 feet in distance and another a bicycle record that i broke a record that i broke here in 2008. i broke that record at 262 feet.

>> obviously there's a risk or we wouldn't be watching this. as you're doing this, and are you ever afraid? is there a moment you step out there you think that maybe this isn't going to work out so well? >> you know, fear can be debilitating with what we do. it's bad, you can't be fearful and do it. i have to be very respectful of the fact that i could lose my life and that's why i train to the extent that i do. >> i want to show folks something here. when you watch this on television -- you're not sure. this is the wire. >> it is. >> this is the wire, whether you're biking or walking. >> that's right. 5/8 of an inch. >> here's a nickel. it's narrower than a nickel. and -- i mean, do you practice this now from a low level and then bring yourself up? >> practice down low. because of locker distances it has to be a larger diameter of cable. because i'm comfortable i was raised walking on a 5/8 inch wire. it's uncomfortable walking on a larger wire. >> one of the things you've been wanting to do of late is to walk

across in front of niagara falls. >> it is illegal. >> they're changing the law for you? >> they're working it right now. it passed the city 62-0. now it's going through assembly. i'd like to thank assembly man. >> so maybe next summer, is it the distance here that's the challenge or just the environment? >> it's the weather conditions, everything is. >> wind coming off, spray. >> that's right. several challenges. >> nik wallenda nice to see you here in one piece. up next here on "today," a popular tv host opens up about her battle with ms. we'll tell you all about it. but first, this is "today" on nbc.

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janice dean about her bat with ms and the surprising meaning it brought to her life. but first, her story. >> let's take a look at our future radar as we go through time. >> she's playfully called janice dean the weather machine. >> if i was in charge -- >> a fox news meteorologist who has built a solid career on solid forecasting. >> yeah, had the dream career and thought i had it all. >> reporter: but what janice couldn't predict was a frightening personal storm, one that would send her own world spinning out of control. >> i woke up one day, and i had no feelings on the bottoms of my feet. part of my thigh was numb. >> reporter: she was baffled and very scared. >> just something was really off. and i didn't know what was wrong with me. >> reporter: after a battery of tests, a chilling diagnosis. at 35 years old, janice had ms, multiple sclerosis, a chronic, unpredictable disease, believed

to be an auto immune disorder. >> the only thing that i had in my brain about the disease is wheelchairs and a miserable life. >> reporter: an estimated 400,000 americans have the disease. >> i remember sitting in the doctor's office and thinking, my career is over, who is going to want to marry me. i just want to hide. >> reporter: when janice told her then boyfriend shawn, she soon realized it was a road that she wouldn't have to go alone. >> the one thing that i remember him saying to me, i'm not afraid of this, i'm not afraid of this disease. i'm not afraid. >> reporter: the couple married in 2007 and a year later janice decided to go public with her battle. >> i really want to bring awareness to the disease because there are so many people like me

out there that really need more hope. >> reporter: now a mother with two young boys, janice says she is a much stronger love of life, not in spite of the disease but because of it. >> my whole perception of what life is supposed to be is different. i am so lucky that i have a great career, but if it went away tomorrow, i would be okay because i have something even greater than that, and that's a wonderful family that means everything to me. >> janice dean is here along with nbc's chief medical editor dr. nancy snyderman. what do you feel children. >> they're my life. >> i know. >> they're just so precious to me. >> and -- >> thank you, i'm so glad you have kleenex. >> i'm ready for that. when you're diagnosed with a disease like this, it's scary and you don't really understand fully, it helps so much to know of someone else who has it, who

can help guide your way. >> right. >> you're here talking about it. you're stepping up because you want to guide the way for people listening. >> yes. >> what is it you want to say? >> i want to say that there is hope because, like i mentioned in the piece, the first thing i thought of, it's a disease that has such a stigma attached to it that you're going to end up in a wheelchair, you're not going to have a career or a life that could be as full as mine is right now. so i wanted to say to that person there at home that it has been new lly diagnosed or who h mother or sister or brother or father who has this disease that you can carry on and you can be okay. i mean, that was the most important thing for me. as soon as i found out all i wanted to do was find people that had it that were doing okay. >> there you go. you said it this morning. dr. nancy, we know that right now this disease does not have a cure. are there any treatments? >> there are always new treatments if most important thing is to get properly diagnosed. it affects more women than men but a lot of times people come

in and the symptoms won't fit anything so diagnosis gets delayed and then medicines, was you know, really have to do with boosting the immune systems. a lot of times courses of steroids. i think one of the biggest misconcessions is length of life. people think, oh, well, you won't live as long. not true. length of life is not altered but it is an auto immune neurological disease. no cure yet. doesn't mean you can't have a big life. >> just means that you have to modify how you live your life. you have to take better care of yourself. >> you adapt. >> so the other thing i would like to offer you a chance to say is to say publicly, as you probably have said privately, to your husband, who is in our studio this morning, the man who said those words to you that just made you, again, cry, this love that was unconditional. >> most women think that when their boyfriends say i would like to marry you, will you marry me, that's the biggest moment of their life. but for him to say to me, i'm

not afraid, i'm not afraid of this journey, i am not afraid to go with you, i don't -- you know, i'm going to take care of you, you're going to take care of me and we're going to be a team. and i owe -- i'm so fortunate. i am the luckiest girl in the world. i really am. >> what a man. what a man you are. you don't have a microphone. >> he didn't want to be on camera. >> i know. sorry. you're at the "today" show. things happen. thank you so much for sharing your story. >> thank you. thank you. >> our best to you. and our best to your kids. it's been great to talk to you. >> thank you, nancy. coming up next, interesting ways to spice up your summer salads. but first, this is "today" on nbc. there's mark, he's going over those lettuces.

brought to you by i can't believe it's not butter. fresh butter taste with 70% less saturated fat than butter. >> this morning on "today"'s cooking school we're dressing up salads, variety of leafy greens are flooding the markets. mark bittman is here to teach us how to toss them. "new york times" magazine columnist and author of "how to cook everything." you've got your students ready here. lots of help. summer greens. i'm starting out with the tender

greens. what do you mean by tender? >> tender speaks for itself. we're talking about bibb lettuces, red leaf, green leaf, spinaches, tender. anything that is not going to offer a lot of resistance. going to add flavor. we're going to treat it simply. >> vinegariette dressing? >> yes. olive oil, usually two or three times as much as vinegar. >> three parts olive oil? >> whatever the taste. and some mustard, dijon mustard. and a little chopped shallot. >> shallot in there. >> and then whisk. would you like to whisk which? >> whisk the whole thing up. simple. >> and that's your basic vinegariette. that will be good for anything. >> salt in there. >> put it in a food processer? >> blender. it gets very creamy. >> and then drizzle, just a little drizzle there. very nice. >> did you know this is what he is doing? >> i'm impressed. >> i would put the whole thing in there.

>> i don't really like dressing. >> well, as you like it. >> let's move on. >> crunchy. >> crunchy. escorot is not a vegetable many use. >> any that have big ribs. romaine is my favorite. >> you are making this with grapes and roasted almonds. >> toasted almonds, chopped. and just some 1halved grapes. >> same one? >> yes. >> more or less the same. no mustard in this one. >> nice. also exhibiting a wide variety of beautiful tossings. >> that's enjoyable. i wonder, do you have to eat that immediately so the dressing doesn't separate? >> have to is a bit extreme. if you want to eat it immediately, it's going to get wilted a little bit if you don't and dressing will separate it a little. but dress it 15 minutes before. >> from tender and crunchy to -- >> bold. >> bold is love.

>> so you have watercress here. and as usual, very stemmy. but these are peppery hot, arugula and mustard greens. >> i love arugula. >> and microcress. they have a love of flavor. using feta cheese, something really stronger here. and lemon juice in this vinaigrette. sweeter. you have a lot of contrast of flavors here. nice. >> look at those tools. >> this one is backwards. there you go. >> rrr, rrr. >> and we have sturdy left. and kale, which is probably least of the lettuces. >> because it's not a lettuce, it's really kale, collard. they're in the broccoli family. some people when they make it, this is, can kale here. some people need the kale to make it more tender. >> you let it wilt, right?

>> you do let it wilt. >> great to have you >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. it baltimore city police officer remains in serious condition after falling 20 ft. from a bridge on the jones falls expressway. 27-year-old officer to resubmit the was on the gardenville when another car lost control and hit the rear of the cruiser. it is unclear if it hit her, pushing her over, or if she went over in an attempt to get out of the way. back in a minute wit

>> now let's look at the

forecast with johnny van. -- with tony pann. >> to start the day, we will have scattered rain showers. thunderstorms will develop late this afternoon and evening. some of those could be strong or severe. high temperatures in the upper 80s and low 90s. it will feel warmer because of the humidity. same story thursday and friday. cold front will go through on friday night. that should assure in a fairly decent weekend. still warm, with highs in the mid-to-upper-80's. >> we will have another weather update at 9:25.